It’s time to uncover the t-roof about your loft insulation

• Almost a quarter of UK lofts are uninsulated, despite potential to save £355¹ a year on energy bills, according to homeowners.
• Almost a third (30%) don’t know what proper insulation looks like, with just one in 10 likely to consider whether it could be improved this winter
• 30% of homeowners have never ventured into their loft, confessing to fears of falling, spiders and dirt putting them off
• EDF is helping customers understand and manage their homes’ energy efficiency this winter.
• It’s easy to check for yourself if your insulation is fit for purpose, you can do it the next time you go up or fetch the Christmas decorations.

6th December 2022: Nearly a quarter (24%) of UK homeowners with lofts say they lack insulation - potentially costing them up to £355¹ a year on energy bills.

Research², conducted by EDF, found that despite a quarter of heat being lost through the roof of an uninsulated home³, only half (50%) of homeowners with lofts believe that installing insulation in this space is a cost-effective way to reduce energy bills. In fact, experts at Energy Saving Trust advise that properly installed loft insulation should pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime¹.

The poll of 2,000 homeowners with lofts found that many are in the dark about their insulation - with over two fifths (42%) not knowing what type they have. Almost a third (30%) say they don’t know what proper loft insulation looks like, whilst a quarter (25%) have never looked.

Only a third (34%) of homeowners are aware that loft insulation should be inspected periodically to check it’s still in good condition. The poll found only one in 10 are reviewing their loft insulation this winter despite the rising cost of energy bills.

Only 6% have explored their loft to see if their insulation needed improving, with one fifth (19%) admitting they don’t know what to look for when checking the condition of their home insulation. To help homeowners in the dark, EDF has created a new video outlining what to look out for when they next visit the loft, to ensure insulation is fit for purpose this winter.

Reluctance to venture through the loft hatch seems to be putting many people off inspecting their insulation, with just under a third (30%) never having been in their space and, of those that have been into their loft, nearly one in 10 (seven per cent) not having gone up into the attic over the past 12 months.

Over a quarter (26%) admit that they don’t like exploring their loft space. Out of these, fears of falling (37%), dirt (31%), poor lighting (25%), being scared of spiders and the cold (24%) are amongst the reasons putting them off⁴. Of those that have ventured into their attic a fifth (20%) did so to collect something stored there, including looking for Christmas decorations (8%) or putting away summer clothing or camping equipment (14%). Yet over a quarter (26%) have no idea what’s up there, with 13% worried they’ll get stuck.

Of those that have been to the top of the house, more than half (54%) have had a rummage in the last month. Over a quarter (26%) of these loft explorers have found an interesting and unexpected item, such as a WW1 German coin, false leg, £500 in cash and a telescope.

Philippe Commaret, Managing Director for Customers at EDF commented: "Good quality loft insulation can have a significant impact on energy bills, so it’s surprising to learn how few homeowners are aware of the type of insulation they have, or what to look out for to check its condition. The good news is it’s simple to check if your insulation is up to scratch the next time you go up or fetch down the Christmas decorations.

“Dampness, damage, thin coverings and signs of mould are key things to consider when looking for signs to act on. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for or you have problems getting up there it’s worth enlisting some help, as preventing heat escaping from your loft will definitely keep your house warmer and lower your energy bills.”

EDF is working with The Eco Scheme, a company committed to helping the UK become more energy efficient, to offer customers Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for a fixed fee of £79 - regardless of location or the size of the home. An EPC is a home energy survey that shows how energy efficient a home is and includes a list of recommendations on how to improve its energy efficiency. It's worth having a look at a property's EPC to find out what can be done to reduce its energy bills and carbon emissions. This would involve a qualified assessor visiting the home to undertake a survey (including the loft) and provide advice on improvements that can be made to the property, then providing a certificate which confirms these improvements and a current EPC rating of the home.    

The Eco Scheme is nationwide, with all surveyors trained to a high standard and TrustMark certified, the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme. For further information please visit: www.edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/get-an-energy-performance-certificate

For more information contact:

EDF Press Office: edf@goodrelations.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. Energy Saving Trust: Roof and Loft Insulation. Energy bill savings (£/year) on a detached home or bungalow = £590, a semi-detached home = £355, a mid-terraced house = £330. Estimates based upon insulating a gas-heated home with a totally uninsulated loft (0mm) with 270mm of loft insulation. The recommended depth of mineral wool insulation is 270mm, but other materials need different depths. The average professional installation cost is unsubsidised, but prices will vary. Figures are based on fuel prices as of October 2022.
2. Research conducted by OnePoll between 11th and 16th November 2022, of 2,000 UK adult homeowners with lofts.
3. Energy Saving Trust: Roof and Loft Insulation
4. Top 20 reasons people don’t like going into their lofts:

1. I'm worried I’ll fall
2. It’s dirty
3. Poor lighting
4. I’m scared of spiders
5. It’s cold
6. I’m worried I might fall through the ceiling below
7. I can’t stand up straight and it hurts my back
8. Rickety ladder
9. It’s creepy
10. It’s messy
11. I might bang my head
12. I don’t like confined spaces
13. I’m worried I might get stuck
14. I can never find the thing I need
15. I can’t be bothered
16. I live on my own and need help getting up there
17. It reminds me of jobs I need to do
18. I will waste time going through old things
19. It’s frustrating
20. I don’t want to get splinters